Comedy world mourns death of Green Bay native Mitzi Shore at age 87

Mitzi Shore, the Green Bay native who went on to influence the careers of some of comedy’s biggest names, has died at age 87 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

The Comedy Store confirmed her death Wednesday with a post on its Facebook page:

“It is with great sadness and very heavy hearts that we report the passing of Mitzi Shore. Mitzi was an extraordinary woman and leader who identified, cultivated and celebrated comedy’s best performers. She helped change the face of comedy and leaves behind an indelible mark and legacy in the entertainment industry and stand-up community. We will all miss her dearly.”

(1 of 2)It is with great sadness and very heavy hearts that we report the passing of Mitzi Shore. Mitzi was an extraordinary woman and leader who identified, cultivated and celebrated comedy’s best performers. pic.twitter.com/BkKFv4Uq4n

Shore, whose maiden name was Mitzi Saidel, grew up in Green Bay — and had the Wisconsin accent to prove it. She went to Green Bay East High School and met her husband, Chicago comedian Sammy Shore, while working at a hotel in Elkhart Lake.

When they moved to California, he co-founded The Comedy Store, the famed Sunset Strip stand-up club, in 1972. Mitzi Shore took over ownership in 1974 after they divorced and was considered “the godmother” of the venue in the late ’70s and ’80s.

Richard Pryor, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Whoopi Goldberg and Roseanne Barr are among the comedians who honed their craft with shows at the venue. She’s credited with helping David Letterman, Robin Williams and Jay Leno get discovered.

Mitzi Shore had no history of show business in her family. In a 1992 interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, she said her interest in high school was art and drawing monkeys.

"I had nothing to do with show business, because, Green Bay, Wisconsin, there's nothing there," she said. "But I had a flair for the art."

She also talked about her approach to running The Comedy Store.

"I had no goal, but my direction was always to help the comedian develop," she said. "Through the years, I created many different stages for them to learn their craft."

Even after acts had made it, they came back to the venue to keep their stand-up skills sharp.

"It's like a boxer. They have to come back and go in training," she said.

She said people in California often made fun of her Wisconsin accent, but she had a soft spot for the style of stand-up from Midwestern comics like Letterman (from Indiana) and Louie Anderson (from Minnesota).

"It's laid right on the table. It's clean. It's basic comedy. It's not heady. It's just real-life kind of comedy."

Mitzi Shore is the mother of actor/comedian Pauly Shore. She is also survived by sons, Peter and Scott, and daughter, Sandi, according to a story in The Hollywood Reporter.